Method and apparatus for minimizing overhead in a communication system
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting packets in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a current transmission rate;
assigning a sequence number to a packet for transmission based on the current transmission rate, the size of the packet, and a sequence number of a previously transmitted packet; and
transmitting the packet at the current transmission rate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for minimizing overhead in packet re-transmission in a communication system. Each packet is given a sequence number, based on a current transmission rate, the size of the packet, and a previously assigned sequence number. The packet size can be adapted so that the entire packet fits into a single transmission block. The packet size may also be adapted based on throughput. The packet size may be adapted based on the transmission rate and/or throughput, whether the packet is being transmitted the first time or if it is being re-transmitted. Alternately, if the packet is being re-transmitted, the packet is transmitted at its original transmission rate, regardless of the current transmission rate.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting packets in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a current transmission rate;
assigning a sequence number to a packet for transmission based on the current transmission rate, the size of the packet, and a sequence number of a previously transmitted packet; and
transmitting the packet at the current transmission rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
adapting a packet size so that the entire packet fits into a single transmission block at the current transmission rate.
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3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of adapting further comprises:
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determining whether the packet for transmission is the same size as a packet that can be transmitted in a single transmission block at the current transmission rate; and
if the packet is larger, dividing the packet for transmission into smaller packets.
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4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, if the packet for transmission is smaller than a packet that can be transmitted in a single transmission block, adding additional packets in the transmission block.
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5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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receiving a transmitted block including one or more packets;
detecting errors in the one or more packets; and
re-transmitting any of the one or more packets included in the block in which there are detected errors, wherein if, at the time of re-transmission, the transmission rate is lower than the rate at which the packets were originally transmitted, the packet is divided into smaller packets, and the smaller packets are reassigned sequence numbers.
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6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of detecting comprises:
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checking the one or more packets of the transmitted block for errors; and
releasing those packets of the transmitted block in which there are no detected errors.
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7. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of adapting a packet size to maximize throughput based on a number of packets re-transmitted during a certain time period.
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8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
determining whether a packet is being re-transmitted, wherein if the packet is not being re-transmitted, the steps of determining the current transmission rate, assigning a sequence number, and transmitting the packet at the current transmission rate are performed, or if the packet is being re-transmitted, the packet is re-transmitted at its original transmission rate.
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9. A transceiver comprising:
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a processor for determining a current transmission rate and assigning a sequence number to a packet for transmission based on the current transmission rate, the size of the packet, and a sequence number of a previously transmitted packet; and
a transmitter for transmitting the packet at the current transmission rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification